BOS discusss Measure N enforcement, Harbor House

LAKEPORT &GT;&GT; The county chambers at the Lake County Courthhouse were filled with an almost standing room only crowd on Tuesday when the Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) discussed Measure N enforcement.

Emotions ran high as members of the public addressed the board during public comment.

"It's not a marijuana issue at all," Lenny Dean, of Spring Valley, told those present. "These men have taken the law into their own hands and abused their authority to the extreme."

In recent weeks, several county residents have claimed that the Narcotics Task Force, citing Measure N, searched their property and seized their medicinal marijuana, allegedly without warrants.

Lake County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) Interim Undersheriff Chris Macedo said that proper protocol had been followed.

Currently the LCSO is conducting a review to better enforce the measure, Macedo added.

The board requested that county staff review summary abatement procedures, which do not require a supervisor or county counsel prior to an abatement under Measure N.

During the June 5 election, Measure N passed with a majority vote of 51.6 percent yes and 48.4 percent no.

If non-compliant cultivation is found, the measure states that the plants can be subject to a "summary abatement" notice, requiring the occupant to "abate the unlawful marijuana cultivation within five business days after the date that said notice is deemed served," the measure states. An appeal of the abatement can be submitted to the BOS within those five business days.

Although it drew less fanfare, the board also reviewed the Harbor House Coffee Kiosk's water supply compliance.

The coffee business was given a 90-day extension in April after being shut down in March for not being connected to a permanent water source or sewer system. Funds to connect to a water supply and sewer system were not raised by the business. Harbor House has instead been offered a new spot to locate their business. The coffee shop will be operating at this site by Sept. 2. The review required no action by the board.

The board unanimously approved a letter of opposition to SB1139, which requires investor-owned utilities and retail sellers of electricity to buy 500 megawatts of electricity generated by new geothermal plants by 2024.